Summary

A lawyer, politician, statesmen, and president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt is best remembered for his New Deal agenda during the Great Depression. He worked to bring economic stability with Congressional cooperation that led to extensive economic reform. As the economy was improving with deficit spending, the world erupted into war. Torn between neutrality and growing fascism, Roosevelt used the Lend-Lease policy to assist Britain and France. After Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt fought a two-front war. As a result of his diplomatic expertise, America emerged from World War II as a world superpower.

Biography

Franklin D. Roosevelt was educated at Harvard and Columbia Law School. While working as an attorney, he married Eleanor Roosevelt. He was elected to the New York Senate in 1910, and then served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy under Woodrow Wilson.

Shortly after a failed attempt at the vice presidency in 1920, Roosevelt contracted polio. He worked to prove himself capable for political service and gained two terms as the governor of New York. After the 1929 stock market crash, Americans looking for a change, elected him president in 1932.

Roosevelt started his term with the Hundred Days of unprecedented congressional and presidential cooperation to alleviate the severe economic difficulties. Roosevelt mastered the use of media with his regular fireside chats in which he encouraged Americans. During his second term, the president fought with the Supreme Court as the justices declared several New Deal programs unconstitutional.

When Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, Roosevelt’s increasingly rejected isolationism. He pushed for legislation to aid Great Britain and France while speaking out against the expanding empire of Japan. On December 7, 1941, Emperor Hirohito launched an attack on Pearl Harbor.

The attack caused the United States to plunge into the two-front war. Holding the Asian forces at bay, while actively working to relieve Great Britain, Roosevelt worked closely with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin.

Shortly before the final surrender of Germany, Roosevelt died. His legacy was shown in the rise of the United States from a severe economic depression to superpower status.

What Made Franklin D. Roosevelt A leader?

During the Great Depression, Roosevelt promised hope to Americans lifting their spirits with his fireside chats and his economic reforms.

Using his fireside chats and receiving unmatched cooperation from Congress, Roosevelt led the country through massive economic reform.

Although wishing to remain neutral, Roosevelt took aggressive action with his decision to send war supplies to Europe.

Working with Winston Churchill, Roosevelt established the foundations of the United Nations with the Atlantic Charter.

Allied with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin, Roosevelt defeated the Axis powers in World War II.